Chapter 3 Is Evan Warm?

There was still no expression on the man's cold and stern face. "We both were betrayed at the same time. If you marry me, you will be Alan's sister-in-law."

"But I... don't even have the most basic feelings for you." Candice bit her lip. Marriage was a lifetime commitment, and she couldn't marry a man without any feelings.

“Don't worry about that. We will only be husband and wife in name. The reason Lydia betrayed me is because I'm paralyzed and can't give her the happiness a woman should have. But I cannot let myself become a joke at this wedding, and you are the most suitable person. After one year, we will divorce by agreement. At that time, I will give you the compensation you deserve."

Candice looked at him blankly. "Why me, then?"

"Because your parents are the ones who most hope for you to marry into the Royston family, and of course, there's your deceased brother." Evan's words instantly made tears stream down her face, rendering her speechless.

"I know it's painful for you to make this choice now, but I don't have much time left."

Evan looked at the living room outside the window. "The marriage registration officer has arrived and is waiting for us in the living room. I'll give you fifteen minutes to consider. If you agree, I'll be waiting for you in the living room. If you disagree, I will have someone send you home." After saying that, he opened the car door. Two assistants came forward to help him sit in the wheelchair and pushed him to leave.

"W-Wait a minute!" Evan turned back to look at her. "Miss Hayes, have you made up your mind?"

"I agree to marry you! But I hope we can sign an agreement first."

The man narrowed his eyes coldly. "Afraid that I, a paralyzed person, will cling to you?"

"It's not that... I just..." I don't want you to suffer.

The man didn't respond to her words. Instead, he withdrew his gaze. "Rex, find two maidservants to assist Mrs. Royston out of the car."

"Yes Boss."

Hearing the title "Mrs. Royston," Candice felt an indescribable feeling in her heart. She had fantasized countless times about wearing a pure white wedding gown and marrying Alan, the man she had fallen in love with at first sight.

Seven years had passed, and she hadn’t gotten married yet. But who would have thought that she would end up marrying not Alan, but his brother Evan? A man she had only met a few times. Love was truly ironic to her.

Candice didn't know how she managed to walk into the living room. All she knew was that her heart was being torn apart. The pain even made her forget about the sprained ankle. It wasn't until her hand was tightly held by someone that her thoughts were abruptly brought back to reality. Her gaze followed that broad and powerful hand, finally meeting his eyes.

"It's your turn to sign." The man's deep voice reminded her, his gaze profound.

"Oh." She pursed her lips and looked at the empty spot on the coffee table. The registrar pointed out where she should sign.

Candice picked up the pen, silently gazing at the blank space for two seconds, and then wrote her name. The efficiency of the staff was high. In no time, the two of them completed the marriage registration.

Candice reached out to take the papers but was preempted by the man beside her. "Sophie, assist Mrs. Royston into the car and take her to the hospital."

"Yes Boss."

Candice glanced at her ankle, not refusing the man's kindness. Whether she could hold up until tomorrow's wedding in her current state was the question. Evan took her to a private hospital. When the car door opened, medical personnel helped her onto a mobile bed and pushed her into the lobby.

After the examination, it was determined that there were only some muscle tears and no bone injuries. However, considering her wedding was tomorrow, the hospital used the most effective treatment. They applied a medicine for promoting blood circulation, then applied ice packs, and finally elevated her injured leg to reduce the swelling.

When Evan entered, all the medical staff retreated, and the room became quiet. Having just become husband and wife with this man, Candice didn't know how to face him.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

"Yeah, much better." She pursed her lips. "E... " She wanted to thank him, but as the words reached her lips, she suddenly didn't know how to address him, so she skipped it. "Thank you."

"Thank you? Just call my name." Candice lowered her gaze and nodded, her hands fidgeting in front of her.

"Are you afraid of me?" Evan’s deep gaze fell on her fingers, and her obvious little gesture exposed her current state of mind. "Give me your hand."

As Candice looked at the outstretched slender hand in front of her, she resisted and clenched her fingers tighter.

"Tomorrow, we will have a wedding ceremony in front of our relatives and friends. If you reject even something as simple as shaking hands with me, how will you face your parents? How will you face Alan and the guests tomorrow?"

Candice pursed her lips. The man was right in what he said. If she didn't even have the courage for this, what was the point of getting married?

No, wait a minute! This wasn’t right. "You... Did you tell my parents?" Candice's face turned pale.

"Not yet. Now that you're my wife, I naturally need to consult you first."

"I... I don't know how to tell them." Everything happened too quickly, from witnessing that bitch couple's affair to getting registered for marriage with him, all within two hours.

"There's no need to prepare mentally. Just tell them the truth."

"No, I can't!" Candice's emotions suddenly became agitated. "Absolutely can't tell my parents the truth!"

Evan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why not?"

Candice suppressed her emotions, averting her gaze to the window. She struggled to speak as she revealed, "My younger brother, Raymond, sacrificed himself to save Alan. The loss of a child left my parents in anguish for a long time. But when I began a relationship with Alan, everything changed. Every mention of going on a date, preparing meals, or giving him gifts carried significant weight for my parents. To them, Alan, had evolved from being a mere prospective son-in-law into something much more profound.

Furthermore, Alan has consistently displayed impeccable behavior in front of my parents. They have complete faith in him and genuinely believe he will bring happiness into my life. Consequently, they've always been more anxious and thrilled about my wedding to Alan. I'm their only daughter, and if they were to discover that I entered into a contract marriage with you as an act of revenge against Alan, it would be an unbearable shock for them. Not to mention admitting that my motives were driven by revenge; they simply wouldn't be able to come to terms with it."